Top seed Elena Rybakina delivered a commanding performance to secure her place in the quarter-finals of the Stuttgart WTA clay-court tournament, defeating Diana Shnaider in straight sets on Thursday. Joining her in the next round is reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff, who also progressed with ease.
🔥 Rybakina Dominates with Strong Serving
The 26-year-old Rybakina, who won the Stuttgart title in 2024 and skipped last year’s edition, showcased her powerful service game to claim a 6-2, 6-4 victory in just over an hour.
Despite a stronger fight from Shnaider in the second set, crucial double faults at key moments cost her dearly. Rybakina capitalized on these errors and sealed the match with her ninth ace.
She will now face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, who battled past Zeynep Sonmez in a thrilling three-set encounter (6-7, 6-1, 7-6).
💪 Gauff Advances, Eyes First Stuttgart Title
World No. 3 Coco Gauff began her Stuttgart campaign on a strong note, defeating Liudmila Samsonova 7-5, 6-1 in straight sets.
The American star will now take on Czech player Karolina Muchova in the quarter-finals.
Interestingly, Gauff revealed that she models her clay-court game after legendary Rafael Nadal.
“Rafa is the greatest clay-court player. I try to shape my forehand like his, but I’m still far from that level,” Gauff said humorously.
⚔️ Other Quarter-Final Matchups
- Karolina Muchova staged a comeback victory over Elise Mertens (1-6, 6-3, 6-0).
- Rising star Mirra Andreeva extended her winning streak to six matches, defeating Alycia Parks in straight sets.
- Andreeva will now face two-time Stuttgart champion Iga Swiatek, setting up a high-voltage clash.
- Linda Noskova crushed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1, 6-1.
- Elina Svitolina dominated Eva Lys 6-1, 6-0 to set up her next match against Noskova.
📊 What to Expect Next?
With top players like Rybakina, Gauff, and Swiatek advancing, the Stuttgart Open is heating up with exciting quarter-final clashes. Fans can expect intense battles as the tournament heads toward its final stages.
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